Technology

Analog, DMR, NXDN, P25, and LTE, explained.

Two-way radio comes in several technologies, each with its own strengths. FirstCom Radio works with all of them, and we can help you decide which one suits your operation.

Request a Quote 702-347-2911

Protocols

The radio technologies we work with

Analog

Conventional analog FM

Simple, proven, and universal

Analog FM radio has served business and public safety for decades, and it remains in wide use. It is simple, affordable, and compatible across virtually every manufacturer, which makes it a sound choice for small teams and a common fallback for interoperability. Its limits are capacity, privacy, and audio that grows noisier toward the edge of coverage.

Works across nearly every brand of radio
Lowest equipment cost
Natural-sounding audio close to the repeater
Supported alongside digital in mixed-mode radios

Best suited to: Small teams, simple operations, and interoperability channels.

DMR

Digital Mobile Radio

Two conversations on one channel

DMR is an open digital standard published by ETSI and supported by many manufacturers. It divides a single 12.5 kHz channel into two time slots, so one repeater can carry two conversations at once. DMR adds clear digital audio to the edge of coverage, longer battery life, text messaging, GPS location, private calling, and encryption. It is the most widely adopted digital standard for business and industry.

Two talk paths per channel using two-slot TDMA
Longer battery life than analog
Text messaging, GPS, and emergency alerts
Scales from one repeater to wide-area trunked networks

Best suited to: Hospitality, gaming, manufacturing, construction, education, and security.

NXDN

Next Generation Digital Narrowband

Very narrow channels, very long reach

NXDN is a digital standard developed jointly by Icom and Kenwood. It uses FDMA technology and can operate in channels as narrow as 6.25 kHz, which makes efficient use of scarce spectrum and gives excellent range at the edge of coverage. NXDN supports conventional and trunked systems, encryption, and wide-area networks linked over IP.

6.25 kHz and 12.5 kHz channel operation
Strong coverage at the fringe
Conventional and trunked system options
Offered by Icom and Kenwood, among others

Best suited to: Utilities, transportation, and wide-area business systems.

P25

Project 25

The public safety standard

P25 is the digital radio standard created for public safety in North America. Its central purpose is interoperability, so that police, fire, EMS, and government agencies can communicate with each other regardless of which manufacturer built their radios. P25 supports conventional and trunked operation, strong AES-256 encryption, and over-the-air rekeying. Phase 1 uses FDMA in a 12.5 kHz channel, and Phase 2 adds two-slot TDMA for greater capacity.

Interoperability across agencies and manufacturers
AES-256 encryption and over-the-air rekeying
Phase 1 and Phase 2 operation
Built to mission-critical standards

Best suited to: Police, fire, EMS, emergency management, and government.

LTE / PoC

Push-to-talk over cellular

Nationwide coverage with no infrastructure

PoC radios deliver instant push-to-talk over LTE cellular networks and Wi-Fi. Coverage is nationwide, there are no repeaters to build, and no FCC license is required. GPS tracking, messaging, and computer-based dispatch are standard. PoC is ideal for fleets and teams that travel, and it can be linked to a private radio system through a gateway.

Nationwide coverage over LTE and Wi-Fi
No repeaters and no FCC license
GPS tracking and dispatch software
Can be bridged to an existing radio system

Best suited to: Transportation, logistics, multi-site businesses, and events.

At a glance

How the technologies compare

Technology	Type	Encryption	Infrastructure	FCC license
Analog	Analog FM	Limited	Direct or repeater	Required
DMR	Digital, two-slot TDMA	Up to AES-256	Direct, repeater, or trunked	Required
NXDN	Digital, FDMA	Up to AES-256	Direct, repeater, or trunked	Required
P25	Digital, FDMA and TDMA	AES-256	Direct, repeater, or trunked	Required
LTE / PoC	Cellular data	Available	Carrier network	Not required

Built in

What every FirstCom Radio solution delivers

Mission critical

Radios and systems built for people who cannot afford a missed call, with rugged hardware, loud audio, and backup power.

Long battery life

Radios selected to last a full shift and beyond, with high-capacity batteries and multi-unit chargers.

Full encryption

Voice and data encryption, including AES-256, keeps sensitive communications private.

Nationwide reach

LTE and PoC radios with nationwide coverage, and sales and service in all 50 states.

Systems, not just radios

Repeaters, tower sites, dispatch consoles, and in-building coverage designed and built as one system.

There when you call

Emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for the systems you depend on.